ChatGPT is everywhere, from the web to desktop and mobile devices. However, when it comes to the official app, it only runs on the latest iPhones and iPads as it requires iOS 17 or later. But a 17-year-old developer has now created an alternative ChatGPT app that runs on really old iPhones, such as the iPhone 3GS.

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Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is now several years away, think again.


Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small performance boost for the 2025 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with the introduction of new M5 chips, while the "true overhaul" for the laptop will come in 2026. So if you are planning to skip this year's ‌MacBook Pro‌, or you're just plain curious about what's two generations away, here are the biggest changes rumored to be coming to Apple's premium laptop line next year.


OLED Display

Goodbye, mini-LED

Several rumors have indicated that the first ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with OLED displays will be released in 2026. Research firm Omdia claims Apple is "highly likely" to introduce new MacBook Pros featuring OLED displays next year, while display analyst Ross Young has said that Apple's supply chain is expected to have sufficient notebook-optimized OLED display production capacity in 2026 to bring the technology to MacBook Pro. Compared to current ‌MacBook Pro‌ models that use mini-LED screens, the benefits of OLED technology would include increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more.

Thinner, Lighter Laptop

Major Redesign

The switch to OLED displays could allow future ‌MacBook Pro‌ models to have a thinner design, and rumors suggest that is indeed what Apple intends. When the M4 iPad Pro was unveiled in May 2024, Apple touted it as the company's thinnest product ever. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman subsequently called the ‌iPad Pro‌ the "beginning of a new class of Apple devices," and said Apple was working to make the ‌MacBook Pro‌ thinner over the "next couple of years." Apple is reportedly focusing on delivering the thinnest possible device without compromising on battery life or major new features.

Notably, the ‌MacBook Pro‌ got thicker and heavier with its most recent redesign in 2021. A major highlight was the reintroduction of several ports that were removed in previous iterations in favor of chassis thinness. How Apple will make its 2026 ‌MacBook Pro‌ thinner without removing the functionality it reintroduced fairly recently is the big question.

Punch-Hole Camera

No More Notch

If you are fed up of the notch intruding on your Mac display, here's some good news. Apple plans to remove the notch from the ‌MacBook Pro‌ in 2026, according to a roadmap shared by research firm Omdia. The roadmap indicates that 14-inch and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models released next year will have a hole-punch camera at the top of the display, rather than the notch we've become accustomed to. A ‌MacBook Pro‌ without a notch would offer additional visible pixels on the screen, creating a more uninterrupted and cohesive display design.

5G Modem

Cellular Connectivity

Early in 2025, Apple plans to introduce the custom-built 5G chip that it's had in the works for years now. The modem chip will be added to the iPhone SE, low-cost iPad, and iPhone 17 "Air," giving Apple an opportunity to test the technology before rolling it out to flagship devices. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will then consider bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac lineup for the first time. The company is said to be "investigating" the possibility of adding a second-generation modem chip to a future Mac as soon as 2026, teasing the potential for a cellular ‌MacBook Pro‌ in the same year. The first Apple modem chip will be limited to sub-6GHz 5G speeds, but the second-generation version will support faster mmWave technology, according to Gurman.

M6 Series Chip

2nm Process

Assuming Apple follows a similar timeframe to its M4 chip rollout, Apple will update the ‌MacBook Pro‌ lineup in October this year with M5 series chips. The chips will be manufactured with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P, resulting in typical year-over-year performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the M4 series of chips. M6 chips, on the other hand, could adopt a completely new packaging process for Apple's 2026 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.

According to one rumor, Apple's A20 chip in next year's ‌iPhone‌ 18 models will switch from the previous InFo (Integrated Fan-Out) packaging to WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) packaging. WMCM integrates multiple chips within the same package, allowing for the development of more complex chipsets. Components such as the CPU, GPUs, DRAM, and Neural Engine would therefore be more tightly integrated. While we don't know for sure, this could see Apple develop the M6 using the 2nm process while taking advantage of WMCM packaging to make even more powerful versions of its custom processor.
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Moving iPhone production from China to the United States could increase manufacturing costs by up to 90%, analysts at Bank of America warned on Wednesday (via Bloomberg).


According to BofA analysts led by Wamsi Mohan, shifting iPhone assembly to America is technically possible, however it would dramatically increase production expenses and create logistical complications.

"iPhone cost can increase 25% purely on higher labor cost in the U.S.," the analysts wrote in a note to clients. They explained that even if Apple finds domestic workers for final assembly, a "significant portion" of iPhone components would still need to be manufactured in China and imported to the States.

Assuming Apple faces reciprocal tariffs on those imported components, the total manufacturing cost could rise by 90% or more, the analysts estimated.

The analysis follows statements from President Trump earlier this week calling Apple's manufacturing in China "unsustainable." According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump "absolutely" believes Apple could manufacture iPhones in the United States. During a recent media briefing, Leavitt said the President believes "we have the labor, we have the workforce, we have the resources to do it."

Trump's aggressive trade policies singled out China on Wednesday, pausing reciprocal tariffs on 185 countries for 90 days but increasing duties on Chinese imports to 125%. In response, China has imposed 84% retaliatory levies on American goods. It's becoming increasingly difficult to assess where the stand-off goes from here.

Uncertainty caused by the trade war has battered Apple's stock, which has fallen 14% since Trump's April 2 tariff announcement, erasing approximately $479 billion in market capitalization. Despite a recent 10% rebound, Apple shares remain down 23% year-to-date.

For Apple to make U.S. assembly economically viable, Mohan suggests the company would need tariff waivers on components and subassemblies manufactured outside the country. However, he doesn't believe this is likely to happen.

"Unless it becomes clear as to how permanent the new tariffs are, we do not expect Apple to take the step of moving manufacturing into the U.S.," Mohan stated. Instead, he anticipates Apple will "continue to diversify its supply chain, and also increase production of iPhones in other countries such as India."

Apple has not officially commented on how it plans to address the current tariff situation. Apple will need to pay the 125% tariff on all goods coming to the United States from China, but it can import devices from other countries like India, Taiwan, and Vietnam at the lower 10% rate.
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Along with an iPhone "Fold," Apple is believed to be working on a larger foldable device that's somewhere around 19 inches, and one analyst suggests it could arrive as soon as late next year alongside Apple's rumored foldable iPhone.


In a new research note covering likely post-tariff scenarios for Apple, investment firm GF Securities' lead analyst Jeff Pu says that both 18.8-inch and 7.8-inch foldable devices have seen development progress and are forecast to enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Pu said as much last month, when he claimed that Apple's first two foldable devices had recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn. Depending on exactly when mass production begins in the second half of 2026, the devices could launch either later next year, or at some point in 2027.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that Apple is working on a foldable ‌iPad‌ with a 20-inch display that will come out in 2028, while analyst Ross Young has said that he expects a foldable tablet-like device in 2026 or 2027, so it's safe to say there's uncertainty about a launch date. There also appear to be conflicting reports about what kind of device the larger foldable will be.

Pu believes the foldable device that Apple is working on will be a MacBook-iPad hybrid with a touch-based screen and support for macOS. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also referred to Apple's larger foldable device as a MacBook, while Ross Young has also written about Apple's work on a notebook with an 18.8-inch display. The Wall Street Journal said in December that Apple is working on a 19-inch MacBook with a foldable screen.

However, Gurman has referred to Apple's large-screened foldable device as an ‌iPad‌, as has research firm Omdia. Whether the large-screened foldable is ultimately an ‌iPad‌ or a Mac will come down to the operating system that Apple is planning to use. If the device runs macOS, it'll be in the Mac family, and if it runs iPadOS, it'll be in the ‌iPad‌ family. Gurman has claimed that some of the design updates that Apple is making in iOS 19 and macOS 16 to unify the operating systems will pave the way for foldable devices and touchscreen Macs, so a hybrid is also a possibility.

• Foldable iPhone Expected Next Year: All the Rumored Features So Far

All in all, the details of Apple's larger foldable device remain murky. That's in contrast to rumors about Apple's smaller book-style foldable iPhone, which have recently been converging on a 2026 release.
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This summer, Samsung plans to launch Ballie, an AI companion robot that it has been working on since 2020. Samsung showed off Ballie at CES in January 2020, demoing a robotic ball that could roll around, record video, respond to voice commands, and more.


Over the years, Ballie has gotten more capable, and now Samsung is partnering with Google to add AI features. Ballie is adopting Google Cloud's generative AI technology, and Samsung says that it will be able to engage in natural, conversational interactions, providing help at home by anticipating personal needs.

Ballie will be able to adjust lighting and control smart home products, greet people at the door, learn personalized schedules, set reminders, and more. In an animated video showing off Ballie, the robot is depicted finding an entertaining video for a child to watch, offering styling advice, telling a man to wear a coat because it's cold outside, and getting people off to work and school on time.

Using Google's Gemini AI, Ballie will be able to interpret audio and voice, visual data from its camera, and sensor data from the environment, plus it will be able to provide recommendations to improve user health and wellbeing.

Samsung has not announced pricing for Ballie, nor a specific launch date, but the company says it is coming in the summer. Customers can pre-register to order Ballie on the Samsung website.
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Smart home company Aqara today announced plans to further integrate Matter into its product offerings. Aqara is bringing its Advanced Matter Bridging feature to all Aqara Matter controllers and bridges, rather than limiting the functionality to just the Hub M3. With the change, users can more easily connect Aqara devices to third-party Matter platforms.


Advanced Matter Bridging can be used to convert Scenes and Signals created in the Aqara app to virtual plugs and sensors that can be shared to other platforms, which means that advanced Aqara features that used to be limited to the Aqara ecosystem can be used in HomeKit. Advanced Matter Bridging is available across all existing and upcoming Matter Controllers from Aqara with the 4.3.4 firmware.

The Aqara platform is also gaining support for over 50 unique types of Matter-enabled devices, including third-party Matter devices from other manufacturers. Aqara Home integrates with robot vacuums, dimmable plugs, smoke alarms, sensors of all kinds, air purifiers, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners and heat pumps, solar panels, electric vehicle chargers, water heaters, and more. Matter devices that are not yet supported by a platform like Apple Home can be added to Apple Home through Aqara's platform.

Support for additional Matter device types is available in Aqara home version 5.1.9 and firmware version 4.3.5 for Matter Controllers, which is coming out later this month.
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Instagram seems to be testing locked reels that require viewers to enter a keyword or a code to be able to see the hidden content. It's a feature that creators could use to increase engagement or to share content with their most loyal fans.


TechCrunch noticed that the Instagram Design account recently shared a locked reel with a hint provided to unlock the reel. Entering the code displays an animated banner with the "coming soon" wording, which seems to reference the Instagram Design team's announcement that it will soon have a Threads account.

As noted by TechCrunch, a creator could share a locked reel that requires a specific word to open, for example, providing a hint that only a follower would know such as a pet's name, which would be a way to share exclusive videos.

Instagram already has a feature that allows users to share a hidden story that can be unlocked with a DM, but the locked reel option does not require direct engagement. Instagram has not commented on the locked reel feature, and it is not clear if and when it will roll out to users.
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The an upcoming version of watchOS will bring a visionOS-like redesign to the Apple Watch, much like the design updates coming in iOS 19 and macOS 16, claims Israeli site The Verifier.


watchOS will eventually have "elements" of visionOS, including a look that is bolder, slightly transparent, and with a floating aesthetic. Buttons, menus, icons, and other user interface elements will reportedly be refreshed, with Apple "working on several ideas" for the Home Screen. The Verifier does not know when these design changes will come, as the features are allegedly still being developed.

The site also claims that Apple is working on Apple Intelligence features for the Apple TV and the Apple Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch Ultra will allegedly get a new, exclusive chip that will allow it to run ‌Apple Intelligence‌, though this is a questionable claim because Apple has been bringing ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features to as many devices as possible, not restricting the functionality to its higher-end products.

Of all the devices announced since WWDC 2024, only the most recent low-cost iPad does not support ‌Apple Intelligence‌. Everything else, including the mid-budget iPhone 16e, features ‌Apple Intelligence‌. Allegedly, the Apple Watch Ultra will get ‌Apple Intelligence‌ first, with the feature set to come to other Apple Watch models "a year later."

As of right now, the Apple Watch models only have 1GB RAM, and ‌Apple Intelligence‌ requires 8GB RAM at a minimum, so that is another red flag with The Verifier's claims. The site says that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features on Apple Watch will include notification summaries, the ability to create Genmoji, and a "new Siri" that understands user behavior and garners information from "sports activity, AI medical monitoring, sleep tracking, heart rate activity, and more."

It is worth noting that The Verifier doesn't have the best track record when it comes to rumors. Last year, the site said iOS 18 would get a visionOS redesign, which didn't happen. Other rumors that have not panned out have included Touch ID for the Apple Watch, a kids mode for the ‌Apple TV‌, the launch date for a new Apple Pencil, and several incorrect predictions about different versions of iOS dropping support for older devices.
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Apple today updated its support document for Apple Maps on the web to add a mention that the feature now works on the iPhone, which appears to be relatively new.


A prior version of the support document listed only Macs, iPads, and PCs as being compatible with ‌Apple Maps‌ on the web, but now there is a new mobile devices section that lists both iOS and iPadOS. Maps.apple.com also loads on the ‌iPhone‌ rather than redirecting maps URLs to the ‌Apple Maps‌ app.

When the ‌Apple Maps‌ on the web feature launched last year, it was not available on the ‌iPhone‌, and it only worked in select browsers. Apple has since expanded support, and it is available for Safari on Mac, Safari on ‌iPhone‌ and iPad, and also Edge, Chrome, and Firefox on Macs, PCs, and mobile devices.

It's possible that ‌Apple Maps‌ on the web support for ‌iPhone‌ was tied to iOS 18.4 and the option that allows EU users to select a new default mapping app. With a different Maps app set, ‌Apple Maps‌ links that an EU user receives are still be able to be opened via the ‌Apple Maps‌ website.
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Apple today shared a minute-long video promoting the Emergency SOS feature on the Apple Watch, highlighting the rescue of Australian man Rick Shearman, who was swept out to sea last July.


Shearman was swimming in Byron Bay when rough seas pushed him away from shore, with the current carrying him over 1.5 kilometers from the beach. He couldn't get past the waves, and after about 20 minutes of trying to get to shore, he realized he needed help.

He called emergency services using the Emergency SOS feature on his Apple Watch, with the call played back in Apple's ad spot in a dramatic reenactment of the event. He was able to source help, and stayed on the line with emergency crews for an hour to direct them to his location. He was ultimately rescued by helicopter.

Emergency SOS on Apple Watch can be activated by holding down the Side Button to call the local emergency services for the area that you're in.
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Several months ago, accessory company Hyper introduced a set of three USB chargers designed with travel in mind, featuring compact designs based on GaN technology and interchangeable charging heads for convenient international travel.


I've spent some time testing out the 70W ($59.99) and 100W ($89.99) versions of the new HyperJuice charger line, and Hyper has more recently added an even more powerful 145W version ($119.99) to the family. All three of the chargers are currently part of Hyper's spring sale that knocks 20% off the usual prices.

All three chargers feature essentially the same plastic design in either white or black with subtle Hyper branding and a pattern of tiny "+" icons reminiscent of the company's logo on the largest sides to provide some visual and tactile interest. A small LED beneath the USB-A port on each model shines blue to indicate when the unit has power, but it's not overly distracting in a dark room.

Charger size unsurprisingly increases as the wattage goes up, and while the 100W and 145W versions each include three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, the 70W version scales back to two USB-C ports and one USB-A port.


Given the wattages involved, there's also a good bit of heft to them, but the 70W model is still fairly light at just under half a pound. The 100W at three quarters of a pound is a definite step up in size and weight, while the 145W model weighs nearly a pound.

With even Apple adopting GaN technology on its higher-powered chargers over the past few years, moving to a third-party solution doesn't always deliver a lot of size or weight savings, and that's the case here. Hyper's 70W model is actually 30–40% larger and heavier than Apple's corresponding charger, while Hyper's 145W model is around 20% larger and 50% heavier than Apple's 140W charger, but unlike Apple's chargers, Hyper's deliver more than one port which is certainly an important travel consideration.

While these chargers aren't the most compact ones I've seen for their wattages, they are reasonably sized and make for solid travel companions. They come with a two-prong US-style Type A charging head with folding prongs preinstalled, which makes them great for tossing in a bag.


But for those who need other options for plugging in the charger, Hyper provides these right in the box. European-style Type C, UK-style Type G, and Australian-style Type I charging heads are included and can be swapped onto the charger in just a few seconds thanks to a quick-release button. The prongs on these heads aren't foldable as they are on the US charging head, but that's not unusual given the US design is most amenable to folding mechanisms.


I haven't yet had the opportunity to travel internationally with these chargers, but I appreciate the inclusion of interchangeable charging heads so I'll have everything I need the next time I go abroad as this set of adapters provides for functionality in over 150 countries.


Beyond the international charging heads, there's also a C8 head included, allowing you to connect a power cable (sold separately for $5.99 or you can provide your own) if you prefer to use the charger on a desktop, somewhere you can't plug the charger directly into a socket, or in any other situation where you need some additional cable length.


All three chargers feature intelligent power distribution, dynamically allocating power to each device based on what's been connected. For example, on the 70W model, each of the USB-C ports support up to 70 watts of charging power while the USB-A port supports up to 18 watts, but with multiple devices connected, the charger's total 70W output will be divided among the various ports.

On the 100W model, the top two USB-C ports are capable of providing the full 100 watts of power if used alone, while the third USB-C port supports up to 27 watts and the USB-A port provides up 18 watts. And on the largest 145W model, the top two USB-C ports can provide up to 140 watts with the third USB-C port supporting up to 45 watts and the USB-A port again maxing out at 18 watts.


With three or four ports on each of these chargers, there are obviously a number of different combinations of ports, and the wattage distribution varies for each scenario, but on the 70W model, using both USB-C ports simultaneously results in a split of 45 watts to port C1 and 25 watts to port C2. Adding a device to the USB-A port drops the distribution to 35 watts for C1, 20 watts for C2, and 12 watts for the USB-A port.

Ultimately, which charger model you opt for will likely depend greatly on which devices and how many of them you plan on powering. For example, if you're a MacBook Air user, the 70W model might be enough for you, as Apple provides only a 30-watt or 35-watt adapter in the box with those machines so you can charge your Mac through the C1 port on Hyper's charger and still have some power left over for some combination of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or other devices. But if you're a MacBook Pro user and/or you're looking to charge lots of devices at relatively fast speeds, you'll want to step up to one of the higher-wattage models.

Note: Hyper provided MacRumors with the 70W and 100W HyperJuice chargers for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Hyper. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This article, "Review: Hyper's USB Chargers Pack Lots of Power for International Travelers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It’s been a wild day for the global economy. Amid US tariff turmoil and reversals, the stock market went on quite the ride. After nearly a week of big losses, Apple stock rebounded significantly with more than 15% in gains—a result not only of the current tariff pause, but likely also exemption optimism thanks to new comments from President Trump.

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Following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pause some of the exorbitant tariffs that he put in place earlier today, he spoke to the press at the White House and provided some commentary that could be a positive for Apple.


When asked whether he would consider exempting some U.S. companies from the tariffs in the future, Trump said that he would. "As time goes by, we're going to take a look at it," he said. "There are some that by the nature of the company get hit a little bit harder, and we'll take a look at that," he added, claiming that he will "show a little flexibility."

During Trump's first term, Apple CEO Tim Cook was able to persuade Trump to exempt Apple devices from the tariffs that Trump put in place, but Cook has not been successful this time around. Trump has not yet agreed to grant any companies a reprieve from the tariffs yet.

Trump announced the unexpectedly high tariffs last Wednesday, sending the stock market spiraling downward and causing Apple shares to drop close to 20 percent. Losses continued until today when the temporary pause was announced, and the market closed with Apple stock back at almost $200 a share after opening at $172.

Trump announced a 90-day pause on all of the special "reciprocal" tariffs that were in place, such as the 46 percent tariff on Vietnam and the 32 percent tariff on Taiwan. The 90-day pause does not apply to goods from China, and there is a 10 percent base tariff in place while the higher tariffs are on hold. Trump raised tariffs on China to 125 percent, effective immediately, and said that he put the other tariffs on hold because "people were getting a little queasy."

When speaking to the press, Trump reiterated his aim of bringing manufacturing to the United States, and he claimed that Apple "building" in China is unsustainable.

If you look at Apple, Apple is going to spend $500 billion building a plant. They wouldn't be doing that if I didn't do this. They'd just keep building them in China. And that's unsustainable.

While Apple is indeed investing in the United States to build Apple Intelligence servers at a facility in Houston, Texas, the bulk of device manufacturing will remain overseas. It is not possible for Apple to move its incredibly complex supply chain to the U.S., due to costs and a lack of workers skilled in advanced manufacturing.

Apple will need to pay a 125 percent tariff on all goods coming to the United States from China, but it can import devices from other countries like India, Taiwan, and Vietnam at the lower 10 percent rate.
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We’ve heard many stories about the Apple Watch alerting people to life-threatening health conditions. A new story out of New Zealand, however, truly shows the breadth of what the Apple Watch’s preventive health monitoring can do for users.

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Spring has finally arrived, bringing with it the perfect opportunity to refresh your favorite tech essentials. TORRAS has unveiled the , designed specifically to blend practicality with a style you’ll love. The Ostand Fitness case is a great fit for everything from casual strolls in the park to intense workouts at the gym, all while keeping your iPhone protected and stylish.

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Apple Notes has been on a tear over the last few years with big feature updates. While the app used to lag behind third-party alternatives, now it’s easily among the iPhone’s best notes options. Among the last couple years of updates, one powerful new feature that got overlooked by me is note links, but it’s recently made me rethink how I use Apple Notes.

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President Trump may have announced a 90-day tariff pause on most countries earlier today, but China isn’t one of them. In fact, the China tariff increased from 104% to 125%, effective immediately.

In case you haven’t been keeping track, the China tariff started off at 20%. Then, in a matter of a week, it became 54%, then 104%, and now 125%.

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As Apple continues to grow the catalog of immersive video content for Apple Vision Pro users, we’re now learning more about the production process of this content. In a new interview on the Voices of VR podcast, Kent Bye was joined by Ant Williams, a freediving athlete featured in the “Ice Dive” episode of “The Adventure Series” immersive video show.

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Apple stock is on the rise after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to pause most tariffs for a 90-day period. Tariffs are immediately on hold in countries that have not enacted retaliatory tariffs, which means this pause does not apply to China, but it is applicable in other countries where Apple suppliers operate like India, Vietnam, and Taiwan.


While Trump has paused tariffs in most countries, he raised tariffs on incoming Chinese goods to 125 percent, up from 104 percent earlier today. The 125 percent tariff is effective immediately, and comes after China raised tariffs on U.S. goods to 84 percent this morning.

Apple stock is up five percent since the tariffs were paused and 11 percent today, but the market is volatile right now with Trump's tariff back and forth, and it could see further shifts downward. It is not clear if it was immediately apparent that the pause did not apply to China.

Apple will still be impacted by tariffs on goods coming from China, but a reprieve on tariffs from other countries will allow Apple to bring more devices to the U.S. with little in the way of extra fees. The pause applies to all higher "reciprocal" tariffs that went into effect today, though there is still a 10 percent tariff in place.
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Amazon is discounting the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE to $169.97 today, down from $249.00. This is the best price we've tracked so far in 2025, and it's available in Starlight and Midnight Aluminum color options.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Amazon has three 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE at this price, including multiple sizes of the Sport Band model. Most are in stock and available to be delivered by mid April.



Additionally, you can get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE at an all-time low price of $199.97 today on Amazon, down from $279.00. This one is available in Midnight and Silver Aluminum colors, and multiple band sizes.



If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Today was the first day that huge tariffs went into effect for most US imports, but it seems the impact will be short-lived—at least for many. President Trump has just enacted a 90-day pause on the most severe of the tariffs, with China a major exception. As a result, risk to Apple may be lessened, but they certainly aren’t in the clear.

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Apple's iPhone continues to be incredibly popular with U.S. teens, according to Piper Sandler's latest biannual teen survey. 88 percent of teens surveyed said that they own an ‌iPhone‌, and 88 percent said they intend to purchase an ‌iPhone‌ as their next device.


Teen ‌iPhone‌ ownership numbers have increased three percent since April 2024, and are near record highs. The ‌iPhone‌ has long been the most popular smartphone among teens in the United States, and there has been steady growth in teen ownership. 10 years ago in April 2015, 66 percent of teens surveyed owned an ‌iPhone‌.

Though teen interest in the ‌iPhone‌ is high, other Apple products and services are not as popular. Apple has not made inroads with Apple TV+, and it continues to trail Spotify as the most popular music service among teenagers.

45 percent of teens surveyed have a paid Spotify subscription, while Apple Music is the second most popular streaming service with 30 percent of teens reporting an ‌Apple Music‌ subscription. Because Spotify has a free tier, it's still the most popular service overall, with 65 percent of teens using it. ‌Apple TV‌+ is not popular with teens, and less than one percent say they watch ‌Apple TV‌+ shows. Netflix and YouTube were most popular with 31 percent and 26 percent of teens reporting usage, respectively.

Approximately 31 percent of teens own a virtual reality device, but most of those have an Oculus (25 percent). Just one percent of teens have an Apple Vision Pro, which is not a surprise given the price of Apple's device. Of teens that have a VR device, 60 percent said that they seldom use it, with just four percent reporting being a frequent daily user.

Piper Sandler surveyed 6,455 teens across 43 states for the spring 2025 report.
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Meta has been working on a new privacy feature for WhatsApp, which will enable “advanced privacy” for chats. With the feature, users will have the option to further protect sensitive messages.

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Meta is rolling out a new feature that will make it easier to switch from X to Threads. The new option is rolling out today in beta and allows you to “follow the same popular creators you’re following on X.”

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Apple will be permanently closing its store at the Northbrook Court shopping mall in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook on April 26, the company has announced.


Apple has added the following notice to the store's web page:

Thank you Northbook. Apple Northbrook is closing on April 26 at 7pm. We're still here for you. Please visit apple.com/retail to find your nearest store.

Apple Northbrook opened in 2005, and the store moved to a larger space in the mall in 2017.

Apple previously said affected employees would be able to continue working for the company, but a closing date had yet to be announced.

"At Apple, we're always focused on providing an exceptional experience for all of our customers," said Apple. "With the evolving redevelopment plans at Northbrook Court Mall and the departure of several retailers, we have made the difficult decision to close our store there. We've loved serving the Northbrook community for nearly 20 years, and our valued team members will continue their roles at Apple. We look forward welcoming customers at one of our eight Chicagoland locations, as well as on Apple.com and the Apple Store app."

Northbrook Court is considered to be a dying mall, as it has lost several major retailers over the past few years, including Lululemon earlier this year.

Apple's closest location for Northbrook customers will be at the Westfield Old Orchard mall.

Apple also permanently closed its Infinite Loop and Royal Hawaiian stores early last year, but it has also opened several new stores around the world since then, including at the Miami Worldcenter, The Exchange TRX in Malaysia, and elsewhere. Apple also announced that it will soon be opening a store in Downtown Detroit.
This article, "Apple Store in Chicago Area Permanently Closing Later This Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The iPad Air costs at least $250 more than the entry-level iPad, so is choosing the pricier model worth it? Or should you save the money and buy the 11th-generation ‌iPad‌? This guide helps you to understand the differences between the two models and decide which is best for you.


The 11th-generation ‌iPad‌ is positioned as an entry-level model with essential features for basic use, while the ‌iPad Air‌ is for users who need more from their tablet, such as students, creatives, or anyone who wants a future-proof device with newer, more advanced features. All of the differences between the entry-level ‌iPad‌ and the ‌iPad Air‌ are listed below:

‌iPad‌ (11th generation)	‌iPad Air‌ (seventh generation)
11-inch display	11- or 13-inch display
500 nits max SDR brightness	11-inch: 500 nits max SDR brightness 13-inch: 600 nits max SDR brightness
sRGB	Wide color (P3)
	Fully laminated display
	Anti‑reflective coating
	Apple Intelligence support
	Stage Manager support
A16 chip (introduced with iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, made with TSMC's 4nm N4P process)	M3 chip (introduced with iMac in 2023, made with TSMC's N3B process)
16 billion transistors	25 billion transistors
5-core CPU with 2 performance cores and 3 efficiency cores	8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
4-core GPU	9-core GPU
	Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
	Hardware-accelerated 8K HEVC, 4K H.264, ProRes and ProRes RAW
	Video decode engine
	Video encode engine
	ProRes encode and decode engine
	AV1 decode
16-core Neural Engine (17 TOPs)	16-core Neural Engine (18 TOPs)
6GB memory	8GB memory
51.2GB/s memory bandwidth	100GB/s memory bandwidth
Wi-Fi 6 connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera with ƒ/2.4 aperture	Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera with ƒ/2.0 aperture
Weighs 477 grams (1.05 pounds)	11-inch: 460 grams (1.01 pounds) 13-inch: 616 grams (1.36 pounds)
7 mm (0.28 inches) depth	6.1 mm (0.24 inches) depth
Smart Connector (side)	‌Smart Connector‌ (back)
Supports Magic Keyboard Folio	Supports Magic Keyboard for ‌iPad Air‌
Supports Apple Pencil (USB‑C) and ‌Apple Pencil‌ (first generation)	Supports ‌Apple Pencil‌ (USB‑C) and ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro
	‌Apple Pencil‌ hover
128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage
Available in Blue, Pink, Silver, and Yellow	Available in Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray
Starts at $349	11-inch: Starts at $599 13-inch: Starts at $799

The entry-level ‌iPad‌ is best for people who mainly use their ‌iPad‌ for light, everyday tasks. If your typical day includes browsing Safari, watching YouTube or Netflix, reading articles, messaging friends, and maybe doing some basic schoolwork or light gaming, the 11th-gen ‌iPad‌ has more than enough power and suitable features.

The A16 chip is still very capable, and the device still has ‌Apple Pencil‌ support for casual note-taking or drawing. However, the display is not laminated, which means there's a slight air gap between the glass and the screen content—something most users won't notice unless they're drawing or writing precisely. The entry-level ‌iPad‌ also lacks the anti-reflective coating, so it can be more reflective in bright lighting, as well as wide color support.

It's a great choice for students or casual users who don't need advanced multitasking features or professional apps. The starting price of $349 makes it especially appealing for families, kids, or those upgrading from an older ‌iPad‌. For many users, the extra $250 to buy the ‌iPad Air‌ is not justified.

On the other hand, the ‌iPad Air‌ is for users who want noticeably more performance and versatility. Its M3 chip is noticeably faster and supports things the A16 doesn't, such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing and ProRes video encoding/decoding. That makes it far more suitable for video editing, high-end gaming, working with large documents, running creative apps like Affinity Photo or Logic Pro, or even writing code. It also supports ‌Apple Intelligence‌, so if you want the latest AI features such as writing tools or Genmoji, as well as anything Apple brings to ‌Apple Intelligence‌ in the future, the Air is the better choice.

The display is fully laminated, which eliminates the gap between your ‌Apple Pencil‌ and the screen, making writing and drawing feel more natural—especially important if you're using ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro, which also brings extra features like barrel roll and haptic feedback. The 13-inch model offers significantly more screen real estate for multitasking, side-by-side apps, or content creation. It also supports ‌Stage Manager‌, allowing true multi-window multitasking with resizable windows and external display support.

If you're planning to use the ‌iPad‌ for productivity tasks or want something that feels more like a laptop alternative, the ‌iPad Air‌ is likely the better choice. Its starting price is $599 (or $799 for the 13-inch), so it is a more substantial investment—but one that makes sense for users who will take advantage of its more advanced capabilities.
This article, "iPad 11 vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: 30+ Differences Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple released iOS 18.4 for iPhone users last week. The update included Priority Notifications, new emoji, an Ambient Music feature, and more. Now, the company is working on iOS 18.4.1 as a bug fix update.

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Apple employees are testing iOS 18.4.1 for iPhones, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update will likely be released in a week or two, if not sooner.


As the version number implies, iOS 18.4.1 will obviously be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities.

There are no developer or public betas for minor updates like iOS 18.4.1.

iOS 18.4.1 will be a stop-gap update ahead of iOS 18.5, which remains in beta testing. iOS 18.5 will likely be released to the general public in May, and so far the update includes only two minor changes in the Mail and Settings apps.

The first iOS 19 beta should be released following the WWDC 2025 keynote on June 9.
This article, "iOS 18.4.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Following Severance’s success, Apple TV+ has been rolling out compelling new shows one after another. And coming soon is Murderbot, a new sci-fi dark comedy that could be one of the best yet based on its just-released trailer.

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While Amazon is still offering some deep clearance pricing on the M3 MacBook Air with 15-inch models at up to $550 under the original prices, we also spotted some notable chances to save on the most affordable new M4 model today. Best Buy’s open-box listings with full Apple warranties are now starting at $890, or up to $110 off the going rate, much like this deal on Apple Pencil Pro down at $88 shipped. From there, we also spotted the Jet Black Apple Watch Series 10 GPS + Cell at $100 off alongside deals on Magic Mouse and the Braided Solo Loops. All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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Apple this week made iPhone 16e parts available to order through its self-service repair store in the U.S. and many European countries.


There are parts and tools available for repairing an iPhone 16e's display, battery, cameras, back glass, speakers, and more. Apple also allows customers to rent an iPhone toolkit for seven days, with U.S. pricing set at $49.

Apple offers a comprehensive iPhone 16e repair manual on its website, and now the necessary parts for the device are available.

Launched in 2022, Apple's self-service repair program provides customers with access to genuine parts, tools, and manuals to repair select iPhones and Macs, Studio Displays, and Beats Pill speakers. Apple says the program is "intended for individuals who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices."

Apple previously announced that the self-service repair program would expand to Canada in 2025, but we are still waiting for that to happen.
This article, "Apple Releases iPhone 16e Parts for Do-It-Yourself Repairs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A new image shared on social media today by leaker Majin Bu provides an… interesting look at iPhone 17 Pro cases. They might not all necessarily look what we initially expected.

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Rumors about next year’s iPhone Fold have increased of late, but not much has been leaked about Apple’s other big foldable device in the works. Now, despite some reports stating a later timeline, a new analyst note says the 18.8-inch iPad ‘Fold’ is on track for a 2026 release.

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Apple TV+ has been finding more mainstream success of late, fueled by the popularity of hits like Severance and The Studio. But there’s one demographic that, per a new survey, is not tuned in to TV+: teens.

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OWC kicked off a new "Spring Savings Celebration" this week, offering solid discounts on a variety of USB-C docks, memory cards, external drives and enclosures, and Mac accessories. Many of these deals won't be applied until you add the items to your cart, at which time an automatic coupon will be applied to your order.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

There are a few notable deals in this sale, including $100 off the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock for Mac, available for $179.99. If you purchase a qualifying new or used Mac at the same time as this dock, you can get an additional $20 off the accessory at checkout.

Docks and Hubs

• OWC USB-C Travel Dock - $29.99 when added to cart, down from $49.99


• Atlas Dual SD Card Reader - $63.99 when added to cart, down from $89.99


• Thunderbolt Mini Dock - $99.99, down from $129.99


• Thunderbolt Hub - $128.99, down from $149.99


• 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock - $179.99, down from $279.99


• Thunderbolt Go Dock - $199.99 when added to cart, down from $349.99

Memory Cards

• 128GB SD V60 Atlas Pro - $23.99 when added to cart, down from $29.99


• 128GB SD V90 Atlas Ultra - $79.99 when added to cart, down from $99.99


• 256GB SD V90 Atlas Ultra - $159.99 when added to cart, down from $199.99


• 1TB SD V60 Atlas Pro - $207.99 when added to cart, down from $259.99

External Drives and Enclosures

• Mercury Elite Pro Dual with 3-Port Hub - $149.99 when added to cart, down from $179.99


• 2TB Envoy Pro FX SSD - $329.99, down from $379.99

Memory

• 32GB Memory Upgrade Kit - $59.99, down from $89.98


• 64GB Memory Upgrade Kit - $119.99, down from $179.96

Miscellaneous

• 2M USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable - $3.99, down from $14.99


• 2M Thunderbolt 4 Cable - $44.99 when added to cart, down from $57.99


• Matias Wireless Multi-Pairing Keyboard - $47.99, down from $69.00

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "OWC's Spring Savings Sale Includes Big Discounts on Mac Docks, Memory, Accessories, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Massive tariffs imposed by President Trump on the rest of the globe went into effect today. Amidst significant economic uncertainty, many are wondering what this means for the cost of goods in the US—including Apple’s products like the iPhone. One analyst lays out Apple’s tariff response options, and his belief that costs may not rise too badly for consumers.

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A new report from Reuters today says that Apple supplier Luxshare is considering moving some production outside of China, including to the United States, in response to Trump’s tariffs.

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Apple supplier Luxshare is weighing the possibility of manufacturing some products in the United States as it seeks to address the implications of new tariffs on goods exported from China, Reuters reports.


The comments were made by Luxshare chairwoman Wang Laichun during a telephone call with analysts, the transcript of which was seen by Reuters. Luxshare is one of Apple's key suppliers and plays a major role in the production of high-end iPhone models, AirPods, Apple Watches, and the Vision Pro.

In the call, Wang noted that while the United States' newly imposed tariffs would have limited short-term financial impact due to the small volume of finished goods Luxshare currently exports directly to the U.S., the company is nonetheless examining its global investment strategy with an eye toward reducing exposure to future trade disruptions. She said that the company may idle certain investment plans in China while evaluating new facilities elsewhere, including in the United States.

In addition to its operations in China, Luxshare has manufacturing and research facilities in several countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, and the United States. Its presence in the U.S. remains limited, and the company did not provide further detail about where or when any potential expansion in American manufacturing might occur. However, Wang emphasized that any move to develop new production lines in countries where the company already operates would take approximately 12 to 18 months.
This article, "Key Apple Supplier Eyeing Production Move to US in Response to Tariffs" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Sonny Dickson has shared a real world photo of two clear cases purportedly for the iPhone 17 Pro series due out this fall. We’ve been expecting the rear camera bump to expand across the width of the phone, and these cases show just how mountain range-sized the camera bar will be.

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